CURATOR - KAITIAKI WHAKAATURANGA

We are seeking a highly motivated Curator who is eager to take the creative reins of a dynamic organisation for a fixed-term three-year contract.This is a unique opportunity to join a small and dedicated team at this pivotal stage of our evolution, and work across Te Uru to help shape its curatorial vision.

Te Uru is a leading regional gallery locally rooted in West Auckland but globally minded. We are a destination gallery that opened in 2014 as part of the refurbished Lopdell Precinct. After a transformational five year period of growing into our new home in world-class, purpose-built facilities, as well as building an ever-expanding set of relationships, we are now plannng for the next stage in our development.

Our programmes encourage dialogue, foster creativity and explore new ideas and modes of practice. In doing so, we promote the value of creative practitioners as a key resource contributing to a successful and innovative city. We recognise Maori as Tangata Whenua and foster the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi internally and externally to enhance and develop our programmes.

This position would suit an established curator who wants to promote dialogue and innovative artistic practice at a regional, national and international level. The Curator will report directly to the Director and work alongside the Exhibitions & Facilities Manager and the Education Manager to deliver and oversee a lively programme of exhibitions, workshops, events and publications.

The successful candidate will be driven by a commitment to generate and facilitate innovative projects, and to promote the discourse of contemporary practice in all its forms. They will have a passion for working with local contexts while maintaining an international perpsective. This is an exceptional opportunity to work with emerging and established practitioners across a wide range of practices.

The successful cadidate will possess the following competencies:

• Commitment to furthering the principles of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with people from a wide range of cultures and practices that reflect Aotearoa's changing demographics and context within the Moana region
• Proven experience in a curatorial role, working with artists and developing exhibitions from idea to implementation, including the management of contractors
• Experience of successfully managing and developing complex projects and budgets within an arts organisation
• Strong awareness of developments in contemporary art, locally, nationally and internationally
• Proven communication skills including a track record of published writing and public presentations in a variety of contexts
• Relevant post-graduate qualification preferred
• Experience in the craft and design sector an advantage

And will need to share our guiding values:

• Manaakitanga
• Innovation
• Collaboration
• Responsiveness
• Diversity
• Sustainability

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to contribute to a significant development programme, helping to shape new directions in programming for this well established but much-enlarged organisation. The role offers tremendous scope and allows suffcient length of tenure to ensure the successful applicant can develop ambitious projects that help position Te Uru as a pre-eminent regional art gallery.